NASCAR Ford Teams Put Up A Fight In 2023 Cup Dirt Bristol Heats

In the spirit of dirt racing, the Cup Series field for the annual race at the Bristol dirt track is set not by time trial, but by a driver’s performance in a series of four heat races. The NASCAR Ford teams will certainly be a threat to win in Sunday’s race, having performed well in the qualifying races on Saturday afternoon.

The NASCAR Ford teams were practically non-factors during the first heat, while Austin Dillon’s No. 3 Chevy Camaro ZL1 and Tyler Reddick’s No. 45 Toyota TRD Camry battled hard for the win in the first heat race. Dillon’s No. 3 Camaro bested Reddick’s No. 45 Camry across the line.

Meanwhile, the second heat was all about the NASCAR Ford teams, as Ryan Blaney’s No. 12 Ford Mustang held off Chase Briscoe’s No. 14 Mustang for the win. William Byron’s No. 24 Camaro finished third.

Veteran dirt racer Kyle Larson easily guided the No. 5 Camaro into the lead during the third heat, and never looked back. He led the No. 41 Mustang of Ryan Preece across the line when the checkered flag dropped.

Finally, in the fourth heat, Bubba Wallace’s No. 23 Camry held off a charge from the No. 8 Camaro of Kyle Busch, who was last year’s Bristol dirt winner.

Drivers were given finishing points as well as rewarded points for making passes during their heats. Larson’s No. 5 Camaro will start first, followed by the No. 3 of Austin Dillon starting second. JJ Yeley’s No. 15 Mustang will start third, with the No. 20 Camry of Christopher Bell in fourth and the No. 8 Camaro of Kyle Busch in fifth. Austin Cindric’s No. 2 NASCAR Ford will start seventh, followed by the No. 41 Mustang of Ryan Preece in eighth and heat winner Blaney’s No. 12 Mustang in ninth.

The Cup Series race on the Bristol dirt track will start on Easter Sunday, April 9^th, 2023 at 7 p.m. ET.

# – Rookie
i – Points ineligible
* – Part-time driver

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